Liverpool Playhouse centenary – in pictures

Liverpool Playhouse centenary – in pictures

From a pre-fame Anthony Hopkins and fledgling Ian McKellen to this year's production of The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan, the Liverpool Playhouse has staged it all. Artistic director
Gemma Bodinetz delves into the archive – and looks back at 100 years of great theatre

Gemma Bodinetz

Monday 14 November 2011 10.24 EST

Maud Carpenter joined the company in its first, experimental season in 1911 and served as business manager from 1923 until 1962. She was the first woman to join the board, and remained in this role until her death in 1967

Michael Redgrave made his first professional appearance at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1934 and spent two years there, where he met his future wife
Rachel Kempson and began the great acting dynasty's long association with the theatre

From 1963 to 1967
David Scase became artistic director and presided over a magical period in the history of the Playhouse, enlisting actors who would go on to become household names, such as
Patrick Stewart, Warren Clarke and Anthony Hopkins (left)

Antony Tuckey succeeded David Scase and continued the tradition of producing quality theatre for the people of Liverpool with productions such as The Bacchae starring Ian McKellen, directed by Tuckey himself

The addition of the Studio in the early 70s allowed brave new work to flourish, such as Watching (pictured), Take My Husband and The Cherry Blossom Tree. The Playhouse has now reopened this crucible for challenging new work

Chris Bond, Alan Bleasdale, Willy Russell and Bill Morrison – semi-ironically known as the Gang of Four – gave prominence to writers and new work. One of their great successes at the Playhouse was
Blood Brothers. Written by Russell and directed by Bond, it featured George Costigan and
Barbara Dickson